IBM POST Diagnostic Code Descriptions

AMI BIOS Beep Codes

Phoenix BIOS Beep Codes

Award BIOS Post Codes

Dell Diagnostic Light Codes

BIOS Upgrades

• BIOS Date
• BIOS Type
• BIOS ID String
• BIOS ROM data
• Motherboard OEM data
• Motherboard Chipset
• CPU data
• Memory data
• Super I/O data

(Please note that not all of the below shortcut keys will work in all versions of Mac OS)

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) includes many additional features that allow you to take control of your security when you surf the Web. Internet Explorer now displays an Information Bar (just below the address bar) where you can see information about downloads, blocked pop-up windows, potential security risks, and other activities. This information helps you to avoid potentially harmful files you might otherwise accept from the Internet. The Information Bar doesn't clutter up your browser when you don't need it. It only appears when there's information to communicate.

If Internet Explorer default settings are on, you'll see the Information Bar when a Web site tries to:

• Install an ActiveX control on your computer.
• Open a pop-up window.
• Download a file to your computer.

Tip: When you see a message in the Information Bar, click the message to see more information or to take action.

What is ActiveX Control?
ActiveX controls can make browsing more enjoyable by providing video, animated content, and more. These programs can, however, malfunction or give you content you don't want. In some cases, these programs can be used to collect information from your computer in ways you might not approve of, possibly damage data on your computer, install software on your computer without your consent, or allow someone else to control your computer remotely. Given these risks, you should only install these programs if you completely trust the publisher.

Information Bar with Pop-up Blocker message

How the Information Bar Works

Sometimes Web sites will display an ActiveX control or active content that may be potentially dangerous or try to download a file to your hard drive without your knowledge or permission. This is how many people accidentally get spyware on their computer. The Information Bar notifies you when it blocks this content and then lets you decide what to do. 
Then you can view the Web page without the content that may be dangerous and if the page displays properly, you can (and probably should) choose not to display the active content. 

To install the ActiveX control

1. Click the Information Bar.
2. Click the install ActiveX Control

1. If a site tries to download a program without your permission, you'll see the alert below. Then you can choose to download the program, but if you don't know and trust the source, we don't recommend it.

   
   
   If a Web site tries to download a program to your computer you will see this message. If you're certain that you want to download the file, follow the steps below:
   
   
       1. Click the Information Bar.
       2. Click Download File
       3. When prompted to download the file, read the information in the dialog box very carefully. Make sure the file is from a Web site that you absolutely trust.
   
   
   Change Your Security Settings
    
   In some cases the information bar will display a message telling you that your security settings do not allow for a particular action. Because some content could create a potential hazard to your computer, you should be certain that you trust the publisher of the Web site before you decide to install the content on your computer. 
   If you're certain that you trust the Web site, you can follow the steps below:
      
      1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
      2. On the Security tab, click Default Level.
   
   
   If you are unable to change this setting, your administrator might have control over the setting.
   Important The default security settings in Internet Explorer are designed to help protect your computer from viruses and attacks over the Internet. Microsoft strongly recommends that you leave these security settings at their default level or higher.
   
   

Block Pop-up Windows with Internet Explorer

Many legitimate advertisers on the Internet use windows that pop up in the middle of your screen to display a message. They might also open when you click a link or button on a Web site, and they might open either over or under the window you wish to view. Some pop-ups are helpful. For example, if you click an image to see a larger version, it might open in a pop-up window. Unfortunately, some pop-up windows can contain inappropriate content or can be a way for you to accidentally download dangerous software (called spyware or adware) onto your computer. With Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Internet Explorer allows you to prevent most pop-up windows from appearing over pages you want to view while you're using the Internet.

Using Pop-up Blocker

When you install SP2, Pop-up Blocker is turned on in Internet Explorer and set to the medium setting, which means it will block most automatic pop-ups. The default settings for the pop-up blocker allow you to see pop-ups that are opened when you click a link or button on a Web site. Pop-up Blocker will also play a sound and show the Information Bar when a pop-up is blocked. You can adjust these settings so that Pop-up Blocker works the way you want it to.

To change Pop-up Blocker settings

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Pop-up Blocker Settings.    

Internet Explorer Tools menu

If you want to see pop-up windows from a specific Web site, type the address (or URL) of the site in the Address of Web site to allow box, and then click Add.

Pop-up Blocker Settings window

Tip To temporarily allow a site to display pop-ups, click the Information Bar when it notifies you that a pop-up has been blocked. Then click Temporarily Allow Pop-ups. 
To block pop-ups even if they are launched when you click a link or button on a Web site

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click Pop-up Blocker Settings.
3. Select the High setting in the box near the bottom of the dialog box.

Note: If you want to see pop-ups that are blocked when you have this setting turned on, hold down the CTRL key while the window opens.

Troubleshooting Pop-Up Blocker

If you've installed SP2 and you still see pop-ups in Internet Explorer, try the possible solutions below.

Make sure Pop-up Blocker is turned on: Pop-up Blocker is turned on by default, but someone may have turned it off.

To turn on Pop-up Blocker

1. On the Tools menu, point to Pop-up Blocker.
2. Click Turn on Pop-up Blocker.

• Rid your system of spyware: If you get similar pop-up windows no matter what sites you visit or even if you're not on the Web at all, you could have spyware, adware, or other software on your computer that's launching pop-ups. To stop these pop-ups, you will have to identify the software, then remove it or change its settings to stop it from launching pop-ups. To learn more about this read How to Protect Your Computer from Spyware and Adware.
• Some windows are not blocked: Pop-up Blocker is smart enough to not block pop-up windows that you open deliberately by clicking a link—for example, if you were on a travel reservation site and you clicked a link to open a pop-up window containing your confirmation details, this pop-up window would not be blocked because you opened it intentionally. Also, Pop-up Blocker will not block some pop-ups with certain types of animated content or pop-ups from Web sites that are in two Web content zones: Local intranet or Trusted sites.

Control Internet Explorer Add-ons with Add-on Manager

Web browser add-ons give different functionality to your Web browser to make browsing a little more fun or effective. Extra toolbars, animated mouse pointers, and stock tickers are all examples of browser add-ons.
Some add-ons are installed with Microsoft Windows. Many add-ons come from the Internet. Most add-ons from the Internet require that you give your consent before they're downloaded to your computer. Some, however, might be downloaded without your knowledge. This can happen if you previously gave permission for all downloads from a particular Web site or because the add-on was part of another program that you installed. Some add-ons don't ask for your consent at all.
Add-ons are typically fine to use, but sometimes they slow down your computer or force Internet Explorer to shut down unexpectedly. This can happen if the add-on was poorly built or created for an earlier version of Internet Explorer. In some cases, an add-on may be tracking your Web surfing habits. For more information on this, read Protect Your Computer from Spyware and Adware. 
If you're running Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) you can use the new Internet Explorer Add-on Manager to help make the add-ons that you do want function properly and to easily get rid of the ones you don't want.

Using the Add-on Manager

Since some add-ons get installed without your knowledge, it's a good idea to first take stock of what add-ons your version of Internet Explorer currently contains. The Add-on Manager allows you to see a list of all the add-ons for Internet Explorer. The list is divided into two categories:

• Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer: a complete list of the add-ons that reside on your computer.
• Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer: the add-ons that were needed for the current Web page or a recently viewed Web page.

To see a list of all add-ons used by Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. On the Tools menu, click Manage Add-ons.

Tools menu

     3.  In the Show box, click the set of add-ons that you want to see.

Add-on Manager

The Add-on Manager can do the following:

• Update: If the add-on is making your computer unstable, but you don't want to get rid of it, an updated version might be what you need to solve those problems. If the add-on is an ActiveX control, you can check to see if the item has been updated.
• Disable: If an add-on causes repeated problems or if you didn't want it in the first place, you can disable the add-on. Disabling an add-on does not remove it, it just keeps Internet Explorer from using it.
• Enable: If you can determine which add-ons are causing you problems and which aren't, you can re-enable only the add-ons you want.
• Report: When prompted, please allow the problem to be reported to Microsoft. This is completely anonymous and requires nothing from you but permission. These reports are used to improve our products and to encourage other companies to update and improve theirs.

Note Some Web pages might not display properly if an add-on is disabled. We recommend that you only disable an add-on if it repeatedly causes Internet Explorer to close.

• Location of the Outlook toolbar and Deskbar Windows Desktop Search comes with the MSN Search Toolbar, a free tool that helps you quickly find content on the Web and on your computer. 

To get started:

A: Install MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search

1. Go to the MSN Search Toolbar download page and click Download Toolbar Now.

2. Click Save, and then click Save again when your Desktop folder opens.

3. When the download is complete, click Run.

B: Let Windows build an index

After you complete the installation, Windows Desktop Search will automatically build an index of your hard disk. An index is a list containing information about all of the files on your computer. Building this index takes a few minutes, depending on the size of your disk, but will make every search much faster. Indexing doesn’t require any work on your part Windows will automatically update your index whenever you add or change files.

Search your desktop
Windows Desktop Search is included in all three MSN Search Toolbars:

• MSN Search Deskbar lets you search the Web and your computer without interrupting your current task. The Deskbar sits on your Windows taskbar, near the clock.

• MSN Search Toolbar for Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer lets you search the Web and your computer without having to open a search page.

• MSN Search Toolbar for Outlook lets your search within an e-mail message, an appointment, an e-mail attachment, a contact, or a document on your computer or on the Web. The Toolbar for Outlook appears near the top of the Outlook window.

  To begin searching your desktop, follow the instructions below for the toolbar you want to use.

  Toolbar	Instructions
  MSN Search Deskbar	1. Type your search terms in the search box. The best match for your search appears as you type.  2. Click  to see your results in separate window.
  MSN Search Toolbar for Internet Explorer and Windows Explorer	1. Type your search term in the search box.  2. Click the arrow next to Search Web, and then click Search Desktop.
  MSN Search Toolbar for Outlook	1. Type your search term in the search box.  2. Click the Search arrow, and then click Outlook or Desktop. By default, Desktop search will search all of your Outlook messages.

Tip and tricks for finding your files with Windows Desktop Search
Get the best performance from Windows Desktop Search by applying these techniques to your searches. Use AND, OR, and NOT
Join search terms with the operators AND, OR, and NOT to zero in on files quickly. Be sure use capital letters, as shown below:

Operator	Example	Result
AND	guitars AND electric	Your search results will contain all the files that include both terms.
OR	guitars OR amplifiers	Your search results will contain files that mention either guitars or amplifiers.
NOT	guitars NOT banjos	Your search results will contain files that mention guitars, but not banjos.

Example of searches with AND

Example of searches with OR

Example of searches with NOT

Vary your search terms
If what you typed didn’t yield any useful results, try typing it another way. For example, if you are looking for a guitar, you might type:
guitar 
If you get too many results, your search might be too general. Make it more specific by adding some details:
yellow electric guitars 
If you get too few results, be a little less specific:
electric guitars

Example of searches that are too specific

Example of searches that are just specific enough

Example of searches that are not specific enough

Wrap your search in quotation marks
If you’re looking for a file that contains an exact phrase, surround your search with quotation marks. If you type a search term without quotation marks, such as:
wooden guitars 
You might yield results that include the word "wooden," the word "guitar," or both. But if you type the same search term with quotation marks:
"wooden guitars" 
You will only yield results that contain those exact words in that exact order.
Tell Desktop Search more
The more information you provide about your file, the quicker Desktop Search can find it. You can narrow your search by including the date you created your file, its type (such as .xls, .gif, or .doc), or a phrase in the document.